Re: How much bourbon is being bought?

Tim probably one of the best ways to get a handle on things like production & consumption issues would be if the B.A.T.F. would publish the number of proof gallons taxed by distillery or bottler.While not actual production records by barrel or actual sales figures by cases they would still be a very good indication of 'who's doin' what'. That information should be made public as we're the ones that pay the taxes and keep the Gov't in business.

Hey Chuck! Are these figures available through the freedom of information act?

Re: How much bourbon is being bought?

I had an idea along similar lines. I would think that the USDA or Commerce Dept would have some sort of public statistics. But, when you try to search the government, the sheer amount of stuff is so vast, it can be daunting.

The same article I noted in my previous post did say that bourbon sales are increasing at 2 to 5 per cent per year, but I am looking for something a bit more specific. This is all just to satisfy my curiosity about the general health of the bourbon industry, but I still want to know.

Re: How much bourbon is being bought?

The industry normally tracks depletions in "flat" (i.e., 9 liter) cases. "Depletions" are the amount shipped by the distilleries and marketers into distribution channels, which is roughly equivalent to retail sales since distributor and retailer inventory levels generally don't change significantly from year to year. "Flat" cases is simply a device that allows the actual liquid volume to be expressed in cases, which is how the industry thinks.

Various entities track this data and report it, generally for the price of a subscription to their publication of service. Someone like Ken Weber or Julian Van Winkle probably has the latest numbers at his fingertips.

I haven't seen any numbers recently but when I have, overall depletions have been up slightly year to year. Domestic (U.S.) sales remain essentially flat, while export sales are growing. In the U.S., while overall sales are flat, the more profitable premium segment has been growing while the popular price segment has been shrinking, so while volume is essentially flat, the business has been becoming more profitable.

I've never seen an annual report of excise taxes paid, either from the Treasury Department or from DISCUS. Such a thing should be a matter of public record, though. I suspect it isn't very useful as an indicator of sales because of various tax payment deferral provisions. Also, the tax is paid on proof gallons, which would have to be converted somehow to an approximation of case sales. It's a figure I have never seen referenced, so I assume it isn't very useful.

Re: How much bourbon is being bought?

Re: How much bourbon is being bought?

You got it BJBB!

Living (as I do) in Commiewealth of Virgina where Socialist controled liquor reigns supreme there is only EWSB Vintage '91 on the shelves. North Carolina is about the same way. The only liquor I've had in West Virginia was some real rotgut called 'Old Ballerina' out of Nitro. I might possibly find some Vintage 1987 in Maryland or Delaware.

I was once told that there might just possibly be some '87 in Scotland, but given the fact that they don't have any good whiskey over there I find that highly doubtful, as any decent whiskey would be quickly dispatched.